Anyone own a Ford V-10?

Eric 951 · 04-25-2006, 06:30 AM

Work truck is in need of replacement.
The musts are :
3/4 ton Super Duty
8 foot bed
extended cab
4x4
towing package

My motor options are the powerstroke, 5.4 V-8 or V-10.
The diesel is hard to justify the extra up-front dollars based upon the price of diesel itself--my current truck is a diesel.
The 5.4 may be underpowered for a heavy truck that will see lots of hard use and towing.

Does anyone have any V-10 experience? Likes/dislikes. MPG aside.

Thanks.

Paul K · Paul K's Garage

We had an F-450 with a V10 in it at work. 05, I think it was.
Gutless gas guzzler.
Don't do it!

vash · vash's Garage

the lady across the street has one. everything she loves about the truck, gets trumped by the MPG. i see her practically idling around the neigborhood, trying to eek the most miles from each gallon. poor lady is a rancher.

her's is a regular cab, F350, with 4x4.

speeder · speeder's Garage

How many miles a month on this truck? I know that you said MPG aside, but the bottom line is that V-10s in a heavy truck are like a toilet flushing and not as good for towing or hauling as a PSD. Depending on the # of miles, it could be several hundred dollars difference a month in fuel. Figure 1/2 the MPGs of the diesel.

You did not say whether you are looking at new or slightly used; if the latter then a V-10 might make more sense if it's a give-away price to offset the fuel costs and still only if your monthly miles aren't that high. The difference right now in resale between a used Superduty PSD to V-10 is dramatic, and more so as the miles increase.

I feel your pain on the price of diesel, (and hope that it will go down soon), but you have to really sharpen your pencil and include fuel + depreciation costs and then the initial premium for the PSD is usually a no-brainer. If fuel stays high, the low resale on the V-10 will only get worse.

turbo6bar · 04-25-2006, 07:18 AM

V-10 = gallons per mile

Do you fancy a gas gauge that moves as fast as your speedometer?

javadog · 04-25-2006, 08:39 AM

Eric,

I've had a 2000, optioned exactly like you want, for several years now. Not especially powerful (diesels don't impress me much either, in this regard) it's been expensive to fix when it broke and it sucks gas like no tomorrow. When we are traveling to out of town construction sites, it visits the gas station daily. My gas bills will be 4 figures in any month where that thing gets used daily.

I'd really take a hard look at whether you need a truck this big. The one I had previously was a 1/2 ton and it went 180,000 miles before I got rid of it. It had nowhere near the capacity, yet it did get the job done, in the end.

JR

jjone20 · jjone20's Garage

Since new I have had a 1998 RV on the E350 chassis/V10, now at 83k miles. It pulls the racecar well and cruises at 70 w/o the trailer. 9/10 mpg depending on winds, but it's an RV and I didn't expect much. The only maintenance issue I had was the MAF had to be replaced at about 78k.

Evans, Marv · 04-25-2006, 09:37 AM

Eric,
What's the matter with the diesel you have? If maintained well, they last a long time. The price of diesel in my area right now is a few cents below regular. Admittedly the price of everything is waaaaay too high. I've heard the V-10s are gas guzzlers, so if you can get 50% better fuel mileage with a diesel, it might make sense. I have an '03 PSD optioned like you describe that I bought used for $28K a year ago. It is in really good shape & looks & runs like new. Maybe that would be an option for you.

edgemar · 04-25-2006, 09:53 AM

Go for a diesel and greasel it...

www.greasel.com

Eric 951 · 04-25-2006, 12:55 PM

Thanks all for the replies. To answer a few questions which were put out there.
My current 99 F250 has 250K on it and has begun the nickle and dime phase--(make that dollars and bigger dollars) recentley the alternator, camshaft sensor, PS pump, injectors, etc. etc. have gone out. I put alot of miles on my work truck, and to have these problems while on a 16-hr roadtrip is a real issue(when my cam sensor started going). Otherwise I like the truck except for the non-posi rear-end and the manual hubs--PITA to get stuck in a 3 inch mudpuddle when it is in 2WD and the right rear tire is spinning and all others are on solid ground. and then get out in the driving rain to lock in the hub.

As for a smaller truck--not feasible. For the amount of equipment which we haul and tow, a 1/2 ton does not have the payload.

Also anything smaller than an 8' bed is worthless for what we do. The extended cab is a required luxury--I have spent too many miles 3-wide on a bench seat in a standard cab, with the luggage wrapped in trashbags in the bed.

So, mileage be damned, I may end up with the V-10

mudman · 04-25-2006, 01:16 PM

Eric, how about a chevy? You can buy mine, I'm selling soon. 8.1L gas, Allison, 8' bed, ex cab, husky liners since new. I just converted from the two piece drive shaft to a one piece monster aluminum unit. 4x4, 58K. Truck is a 2001.
Heard some longevity issues with the V10, but haven't looked into it. Have you considered getting two trucks? This is what we are looking to do. I really need a dump bed and more towing capacity, and a 1/2 ton 4x4 will get the rest done. We are finding the multi truck route to be a smarter route. Good luck in your search!

speeder · speeder's Garage

Eric, if I'm reading you correctly you put ~40k miles a year on this truck? And just recently @ 250k miles it is needing stuff replaced? I can tell you that a diesel is the only smart choice economically for that kind of miles travelled and the durability and maintenance costs of a V-10 w/ 200k miles would be a bloody nightmare. It would probably need a motor at this point and the truck would be worth scrap metal. Your '99 PSD is still worth $9-10G right now, that should tell you something.

When you factor in depreciation and fuel costs it is no contest w/ those annual miles. A PSD needing injectors @ 250k is normal maintenance. I would consider buying late model Powerstrokes or Dodge Cummins and trade before the miles get that high, (maybe 160 or so, they still pull BIG bucks at that point), you will avoid the big repairs, and save an absolute fortune on fuel and depreciation.

Fuel + depreciation on a new V-10 would be ~$2k @ month!!

If you don't take my advice, at least for god's sake don't buy it new. Used '04-'05 V-10s are really cheap right now. Good luck and go diesel!

turbo6bar · 04-25-2006, 02:27 PM

+1 to speed's post. I've heard the V-10 depreciates 108% after you drive it off the lot...

dean · 04-25-2006, 04:03 PM

Yank your Powertoak out and put a Cummins in. It should get close to 20mpg. I used to get 22 mpg before I made mine a DRW.

TimT · 04-25-2006, 04:41 PM

FWIW in my 6.0 PSD I get 22+ highway, 18 town, 12-14 towing a 26 closed trailer

Eric 951 · 04-26-2006, 04:45 AM

It has to be a Ford. They are our fleet vehicles. Regarding the mileage and motor choice of my current truck--about 180K was by the previous driver(one of our supt.). Being the dutiful exec, I have always taken a 'hand-me-down" truck and deferred the new trucks to the field supts. Whenever one starts to get up in mileage or has some bodywork issues, or if a supt. performs particularly well in a given year, a new truck is usually presented.
We are currently running a fleet of 22 trucks--mine being one of the oldest.
I have been doing this for the past 12 years--always taking a hand-me-down.
Now, however, it is time to finally start fresh.
I feel I have deserved it

So, I will probably sell my current truck outright, and go with a new V-10, optioned how I choose, and drive the wheels off.
First mod--dual exhaust.

speeder · speeder's Garage

If you are expecting the V-10 to be fast or fun in any way, you're in for a big disappointment, but they are quiet and smooth. I guess if you are not paying for fuel directly, who cares? Enjoy it, all brand new trucks are nice.